Neuropathological changes in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are directly linked to the early inflammatory microenvironment in the brain. Therefore, disease-modifying agents targeting neuroinflammation may open up new avenues in the treatment of AD. Strigolactones (SLs), subclasses of structurally diverse and biologically active apocarotenoids, have been recently identified as novel phytohormones. In spite of the remarkable anticancer capacity shown by SLs, their effects on the brain remained unexplored. Herein, the SIM-A9 microglial cell line was used as a phenotypic screening tool to search for the representative SL, GR24, demonstrating marked potency in the suppression of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammatory/neurotoxic mediators by regulating NF-κB, Nrf2, and PPARγ signaling. GR24 also in the brain endothelial cell line bEnd.3 mitigated the LPS-increased permeability as evidenced by reduced Evans' blue extravasation through enhancing the expression of tight junction protein, occludin. Collectively, the present work shows the anti-neuroinflammatory and glia/neuroprotective properties of GR24, making SLs promising scaffolds for the development of novel anti-AD candidates.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are one of the most frequently prescribed drug classes with wide therapeutic applications over the centuries. Starting from the use of salicylate-containing willow leaves to the recent rise and fall of highly selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors and the latest dual-acting anti-inflammatory molecules, they have displayed a rapid and ongoing evolution. Despite the enormous advances in the last twenty years, investigators are still in search of the design and development of more potent and safer therapy against inflammatory conditions. This challenge has been increasingly attractive as the emergence of inflammation as a common seed and unifying mechanism for most chronic diseases. Indeed, this fact put the NSAIDs in the spotlight for repurposing against inflammation-related disorders. This review attempts to present a historical perspective on the evolution of NSAIDs, regarding their COX-dependent/independent mode of actions, structural and mechanism-based classifications, and adverse effects. Additionally, a systematic review of previous studies was carried out to show the current situation in drug repurposing, particularly in cancers associated with the GI tract such as gastric and colorectal carcinoma. In the case of non-GI-related cancers, preclinical studies elucidating the effects and modes of action were collected and summarized.

No abstract